We’ll Never Forget our 1990s roots

They may not be back for good, but Robbie Williams has said that rejoining Take That onstage felt like Christmas.

The band united for a gala performance of musical The Band – which is based on 30 years of Take That hits – for the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

Revealing that he will join Take That on their 30th anniversary greatest hits tour next year whenever he can, Williams said he regretted they didn’t call each other sooner but he is glad they’ve “got there in the end”.

Take That remain the biggest-selling British boyband of all time.

Image:Take That performing in Italy in 2011

In their first interview together with Robbie in years (minus Jason Orange), Take That told Sky News they’re glad to be a product of the 1990s.

As Robbie Williams challenged the Spice Girls to a dance-off – their fellow 1990s stars – he reflected on Take That’s phenomenal rise to fame, and admitted: “I would never get away now, with what I got away with back then.”

Image:Robbie Williams (pictured in 2001) enjoyed a successful solo career following his departure from Take That

Howard Donald agreed – explaining that younger pop stars coming up have a very different experience.

He said: “I’m happy we did it in 90s.

“Now they use social media, Spotify, YouTube, iPhones… We had to physically go to countries and really work.”

“They don’t know they’re born now,” joked Mark Owen.

“We did real hard graft,” laughed Gary Barlow.

It’s rare to have four out of the five piece that formed back in 1989.

Image:Take That challenge the Spice Girls to a dance-off

Recalling how they got together nearly 30 years ago, Barlow said he can hardly believe they’ve made it, let alone still having hits.

Their current record Odyssey has given them their eighth number one album.

Williams added: “We are really proud to have an entertainment career this long and not having to do panto, not that it’s below me, I just don’t have to do it yet.

“We are five herberts from northern England, things like this just don’t happen to people like us.”